Honey Bees and their Nutrition

Apple blossom

Nutrition affects honey bees, like any other animal. They require a balance diet of sugar, proteins, vitamins, minerals and water to be and stay healthy during their life.

With the high mortality of managed honey bee colonies a new study demonstrated that poor nutrition not only affect the single bee but the entire colony as well.

The global accepted consensus among scientists is that: " ...the effects and interactions of many factors: parasites, pathogens, pesticides, low genetic diversity and poor nutrition is causing or exacerbating these losses." 

In the newly published scientific paper, Bailey Scofield and  Heather Mattel found that the chief source of nutritional stress in colonies were the inadequate access to pollen, which is of utmost importance for larval growth and development. In addition, when those young bees became adults; their foraging and recruiting performance was " substantially compromised." The relation was obvious when they compared bees reared with an abundance of pollen; the pollen stressed bees were lighter, died sooner and fewer were foraging. Furthermore, they were less likely to perform the waggle dance or dancing poorly. This atrophied behavior compromised the foraging and recruiting that those bees were supposed to do. If there are less foragers or less able foragers, the food may not be collected in sufficient quantity  to nourish the colony's larvae. In turn those developing bees can become under performer, compromising the health of the whole colony.

The authors concluded that workers raised in  pollen-limited colonies were more likely than their well nourished counterparts to " disappear after one day of foraging" their reasons were  " maybe difficulty returning to their hive, inferior ability to evade predators, insufficient vigor, poo homing ability, and other physical limitation. All brought on by undernourishment."

The big concern in this study is the impact of the poor nutrition of the colonies and  the " possibility that it acts synergistically with other environmental stressors to undermine colony function."

It seems logical that undernourished creatures would be susceptible and vulnerable to other stressors like: pest, pesticides, and pathogens.

In another previous study, Judy Wu found that" high level of pesticides in brood comb during larval development reduce adult longevity."

This perfect storm of stressors coming at once seems to make it difficult for worker bees to get the proper nourishment they need to function as efficient foragers and dancers, compromising the whole colony. 

The declining health and productivity of honey bee colonies is concerning because honey bees pollinate many of our fruits and vegetables.

Honey Bee Workers That Are Pollen Stressed as Larvae Become Poor Foragers and Waggle Dancers as Adults Hailey N. Scofield, Heather R. Mattila 

• 
  

• Published: April 8, 2015
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0121731

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0121731

Sub-Lethal Effects of Pesticide Residues in Brood Comb on Worker Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) Development and Longevity Judy Y. Wu,Carol M. Anelli , Walter S. Sheppard

• Published: February 23, 2011
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014720

http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0014720

You Hived your Package now What?

Hive after hiving Bee package

I know many of you hived your bee packages for the first time in your life, in the last couple of weeks. That is wonderful!

By now your hive should still look like this one, EXCEPT the grass obviously should be gone! Both boxes are plugged and a very small entrance is used.

You put you queen cage in and used a marshmallow to plug it. The queen should have been released by the workers chewing  the sweet marshmallow. This took about 3 or 4 hours. You also remembered to put some pollen patty. If not, put it as soon as possible, right on top of the frames.

24 hours after hiving you should have looked in your hive (using your smoker!) to make sure that the holes in your feeder are not plugged by some sugar. That's it.

Leave you hive alone for 4-7 days, so the queen can start laying eggs in peace and quiet, and the worker bees can make the wax needed for the nest.

As I write this... it is snowing! and only 35F. You bees will be ok, they will cuddle and get warm. Don't open your hive when it is this cold. It needs to be 50F, otherwise you may chill your freshly laid eggs, and larvae .

So, now it has been a week since you installed your bees. You can know look inside the hive. Remember from now on you need to use smoke and have your veil tight!

What you should look for? Good question! You are new at this, so take the first frame out, very slowly, look on both sides. If there is no queen on it, place it on the side of the brood box.

Take another and look if you can spot any eggs? Or larvae, little white c snapped "worm"?
If yes, you have a laying queen...no need to see her. Close everything back.

Put your pollen patty pieces back on , and replenish your sugar syrup (1:1).

New package should be left to themselves for a while. Relax you will have plenty of time to observe them when they are in full swing!

Your next inspecting should be in another 7-10 days.

Happy Beekeeping to all :)

Hiving/ Installing a Bee Package

Beautiful Bee Package

Soon, many of you will pick up their first bee packages...So exciting! Many of you will also have to hive/install your own bees in their new hives by yourself. Yes, you can do it.

As you package has travelled from far away, once you get home ,  spray your bees with water so they can  get a good drink. Place them in a cool place, like your basement, and let them relax a bit...it has been a long journey for your bees. 

I hope that your hive is set up in its proper location, if it is the case...you are ready!

Remember if it is too cold , rainy or windy wait a day. In the meantime you should spray them 3x per day with light syrup (1:1 water: sugar).

Do not use your smoker on this first day with your bees, there is no need. 

Hiving/Installing a bee package

I hope you remember the things you learn in your beekeeping classes!

Stay calm, and be gentle your bees will thank you.

Happy Beekeeping! Enjoy your new hobby...it is a fascinating one :)

Last 2 Beekeeping Classes in Eden Prairie for the Season!

Backyard Beekeeping I class is  starting next week: April 15. Then in May the second part Backyard Beekeeping II will take place on May 6th ; both classes are offered in Eden Prairie, MN. I will be teaching those 2 classes, the last one of the season. Many students already took them and will be keeping honey bees.  It is always a joy for me to see new students so enthusiastic about learning something different...Beekeeping! Some people take my class just to be informed, others because they are seriously considering keeping bees as a new hobby.


                                                   All classes will take place at:

                                      EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY EDUCATION

                                                    8040 Mitchell Road

                                                   Eden Prairie, MN 55344

                                             To register call:  952-975-6940

                        OR visit the website: https://edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com

Backyard Beekeeping I

Wednesdays April 15, 22 & 29  2015  From 6:30-8:30pm

Education Center in E.P. Room # 319

Cost: $35

What's the Buzz? Join Part 1 of our backyard beekeeping class! It is an introduction to keeping bees by learning the basic beekeeping skills: history, honeybee society and biology, equipment, hive products and more! Learn much of what you need to know to start a new hobby--caring for and enjoying your own honey bees.

Backyard Beekeeping II

Wednesdays  May 6, 13 & 20 2015 From 6:30-8:30pm

Education Center in E.P. Room # 319

Cost: $35

Looking to take your backyard beekeeping skills to the next level? Part 2 of our Backyard Beekeeping series, you will learn all about seasonal colony management like fall harvest and processing. We will also discuss bee health and what you can do to keep your hive healthy. At the end of this class series, you will have the knowledge necessary to create, cultivate and grow a thriving beehive!

Spring is Here...Take a Beekeeping Class in Eden Prairie

I know that it does not feel and look like spring ...yet...But I promise you warmth is on its way!

              Listed below is what the Eden Prairie Community Education Center is offering in 2015

                                                      All classes will take place at:

                                      EDEN PRAIRIE COMMUNITY EDUCATION

                                                    8040 Mitchell Road

                                                   Eden Prairie, MN 55344

                                      To register call:  952-975-6940

              OR visit the website: https://edenprairie.thatscommunityed.com

                              Here are the classes FOR APRIL & MAY 2015

Exploring Beekeeping  

Tuesday, April 7  2015  From 6:30-8:30 pm

Education Center in E.P. Room # 319

Cost: $ 15

This two-hour course offers an introduction and brief overview of beekeeping. It will cover: city ordinances, equipment, time and financial requirements, races of honey bees, beehives location, obtaining and installing your new bees, honey plants and bee food needs, pollination, pesticides, as well as helping your honey bees to stay healthy. If you are interested in keeping honey bees, but not yet sure how to start, this class is for you. After taking this course, you will be able to make a well-informed decision about keeping bees in your backyard. And, if you would like to pursue beekeeping, Eden Prairie Community Education will offer other beekeeping courses as part of their spring course offerings.

Backyard Beekeeping I

Wednesdays April 15, 22 & 29  2015  From 6:30-8:30pm
Education Center in E.P. Room # 319
Cost: $35

What's the Buzz? Join Part 1 of our backyard beekeeping class! It is an introduction to keeping bees by learning the basic beekeeping skills: history, honeybee society and biology, equipment, hive products and more! Learn much of what you need to know to start a new hobby--caring for and enjoying your own honey bees.


Backyard Beekeeping II
Wednesdays  May 6, 13 & 20 2015 From 6:30-8:30pm
Education Center in E.P. Room # 319
Cost: $35

Looking to take your backyard beekeeping skills to the next level? Part 2 of our Backyard Beekeeping series, you will learn all about seasonal colony management like fall harvest and processing. We will also discuss bee health and what you can do to keep your hive healthy. At the end of this class series, you will have the knowledge necessary to create, cultivate and grow a thriving beehive!

Early Pollen in Minnesota!

Bee entering the hive with pollen on her legs

Sunday March 15, 2015 was a spectacular day...warm and sunny. The bees were taking advantage of the beautiful day and were collecting a lot of pollen for this early in the season.

Honey bees bringing back the beautiful yellow pollen.

Close up of the packed legs. I also saw some white, and darker yellow pollen.

It is great to see the bees foraging, and be healthy.

Monday, I visited my Russian bees... I saw the original queen (she is painted!) and saw some eggs. Cleaned up the bottom board, and gave them a couple of frames of honey and a bit of pollen patty. I guess spring is here.
 Love it!

I used a long stick to clean the bottom board,
it is less disruptive than
taking each box off.

Early Warmth & Bees in Bird Feeder!

Honey bees visiting bird feeder

It has been very nice in the past few days, with temperatures well above normal for this time of year in Minnesota....in the 50's and 60's, too quick and too warm too soon! I am not complaining, I enjoy the warmth; but the honey bees are a bit confused.

My friend Gayle noticed some bees in her bird feeder coming in  and thinking it was odd. She is right! Bees don't eat seeds... but right now there is no fresh pollen available. Of course I have put some pollen patties in their hives, but I guess Gayle's fresh seeds are way better! Especially she is so good to birds, she replenish her feeder daily....the bees took notice!

It is a good sign for our bees, it means that they are starting to rear brood in their hives, and some foragers are actively looking and searching for food. This phenomenon happens when the temperature is above 50 degree F, and when the flowers are not available. The ingenious bees then turn to other sources of pollen. They are attracted to seeds that have been ground into feed for farm animal, for instance or even saw dust. Obviously bees are not able to carry seeds back to their hive, but they will carry small broken pieces of seeds and dust pollen which are rich in protein.  It can be dangerous for the bees because sometimes they get caught inside the feeder and cannot escape, and soon die.

Bees on top of seeds

Liz took those pictures, and she told me that she took some bees out of the feeder and placed them on the ground, so they would not die in the feeder. This is the first time that this behavior has been observed at the farm! I am glad Gayle noticed! It is unbelievable how the honey bees are resourceful. This should stop when the first flowers bloom....hopefully soon.

Happy beekeeping!